See how Xi and Putin are ramping up joint military drills
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. HONG KONG—The militaries of China and Russia, America’s top two global adversaries, are working together as never before in their long partnership, probing the defenses of the U.S. and its allies.
The message to America from the growing partnership is that, if drawn into a military conflict, U.S. forces could find themselves confronting both countries. Chinese-Russian joint patrols and military exercises have become more frequent and increasingly assertive, a review of recent activity shows—and the U.S.
and its allies have been forced to respond more frequently as well, scrambling jet fighters and other assets to safeguard territory. Beijing and Moscow have been displaying close cooperation near Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, nations that the U.S. has pledged to defend, and Taiwan, to which the U.S.
sells weapons and provides training. Washington has maintained a policy of ambiguity as to whether it would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion. Alongside growing military ties between Russia and U.S.
foe North Korea, the prospect of battling multiple enemies compounds the challenge for the U.S. as it prepares and develops strategy for a potential conflict in Asia. The point was made closer to home in July, when Russian and Chinese warplanes took off from a Russian air base and flew together past Alaska, prompting the U.S.
and Canada to send jet fighters to intercept them. U.S. officials said it was the first time strategic bombers from Russia and China operated together near North America.
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